佛像网

尺寸：50.2 × 39.7 cm
年代：16世纪
质地：唐卡
风格：西藏
来源：芝加哥艺术博物馆
参阅：外部链接
鉴赏：
棉布设色：不透明水彩及金彩

弥勒菩萨是未来佛，也是释迦牟尼佛的继承者，其身份可通过右肩附近莲花上那个小小的金色水瓶辨认出来。他两侧有两位菩萨：绿色的是金刚手菩萨，金色的很可能是文殊菩萨。这三位圣众共同代表了释迦牟尼佛的德性：弥勒是其慈悲的化身，文殊是其智慧的化身，金刚手则是其力量的化身。画面边缘的大部分神祇都属于弥勒菩萨的眷属随从。右下角那位身着白衣的僧人，便是主持这幅唐卡开光仪式的法师。

The bodhisattva Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, and the successor of Shakyamuni Buddha, is identifiable by the tiny, gold waterpot perched on the lotus near his shoulder at right. He is flanked by two other bodhisattvas; the green one is Vajrapani and the golden one is most likely Manjusri. Collectively, these three deities represent Shakyamuni Buddha’s virtues: Maitreya is the manifestation of his compassion, Manjusri is the manifestation of his wisdom; and Vajrapani is the manifestation of his power. Most of the deities in the margins form part of the bodhisattva’s retinue. The monk who officiated at the thangka’s consecration is at lower right in white.